John Batterson
Stetson is born in 1830 in Orange, NJ, the seventh of twelve
children. His father, Stephen, is a successful hatter who founded the
No Name Hat Company. With little formal schooling, young John B.
Stetson is taught to read and write by his mother and the hatter’s
trade by his father. Contracting tuberculosis in his twenties,
Stetson ventures west.

1865 - 1869

Return to
Philadelphia

Stetson reaches
Pikes Peak and regains his health but does not strike it rich. In
1865 he returns to Philadelphia, borrows $60 from his sister and
rents a room at Seventh and Callowhill Streets, launching his own hat
business. With many hat makers in the city, Stetson struggles to
compete, until he gambles on his instinct for a market out west…

1870 - 1875

Factory is
Established

In 1870, less than a
year after making his first “Boss of the Plains”, John B. Stetson
purchases a building on the northern outskirts of Philadelphia,
establishing what would become the largest hat factory in America.
Stetson builds his legacy as a business innovator, steward of a
company as concerned for the welfare of its employees as in its
commercial output.

1876 - 1900

In the Twilight of a
Century

As America
celebrates its 100th birthday, Stetson is renowned as an established
industrial power, collecting awards, admirers in many fields and
international attention.

1901 - 1919

Industrial Evolution

As the century
dawns, John B. Stetson shepherds the company to unimagined success.
Combining an instinct for marketing that is ahead of its time with
traditional yet innovative techniques, his leadership makes Stetson a
household name and its hats the embodiment of American quality.
Sadly, this also marks the time of the founder’s death.

1920 - 1929

The Roaring Twenties

Stetson rides the
wave of the Jazz Age, creating new and fashionable hats to align with
the major Hollywood stars – and politicians – as well as the high
living and trendy “swells” of this generation.

1930 - 1939

Hard Times, New
Opportunities

In the extreme
hardship felt by all during the Great Depression, Stetson thrives by
continuing to innovate: expanding manufacturing and variety of
product to meet the aspirational hopes as well as the practical needs
of a struggling nation.

1940 - 1949

The Forties

Stetson readily
joins the war effort in World War II, producing tens of thousands of
hats for the military, contributing enlistees, labor and materials –
and launching an intriguing ad campaign based on the importance of
discretion during times of war.

1950 - 1959

The Fifties

In tune with postwar
optimism, Stetson creates “The World’s Most Expensive Hat”,
taking it on a worldwide publicity tour. Closer to home, Americans
enjoy peace and upward mobility, reflected in the advertisements of
the time.

1960 - 1969

The Sixties: a
Hatless President and LBJ

Decline in hat sales
begins in the fifties, and John F. Kennedy’s universally seen
hatless inauguration in January, 1961 delivers a near-fatal blow.
However, his successor, a hat-wearing Texan, exemplifies both the
legacy and direction of Stetson for the next decades, as Stetson
celebrates its first one hundred years.

1970 - 1979

Major Transitions

With hats no longer
a required accessory, many hat makers fold and Stetson ceases
production in the Philadelphia factory. The land is donated to the
city in 1977. Manufacturing continues in the St. Joseph, MO factory,
primarily servicing the flourishing Western market.

1980 - 1999

A Second Century
Draws to a Close

Stetson divests from
manufacturing and moves to licensed production, establishing itself
as a lifestyle brand, extending merchandising to fragrances and
eyewear. Films such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Urban
Cowboy” spark hat sales.

2000 - 2014

The Dawn of the 21st
Century

Defining the Stetson
lifestyle: product additions include apparel, footwear and home.
License is inked for Europe. A salute to history with a limited
edition collector’s Colt® revolver. At the same time, with the
advent of “hipster” fashion, dress hats enjoy a resurgence.

2015 -

Today and Tomorrow

Stetson invites all
to travel over time and place on a continuing journey. We will
always be diverse yet unifying, innovative and adaptable while
embracing tradition with the highest respect. We are guardians of
our legacy and our stories, ready to share with the next generation.